Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-08-11

IT any oouv nau ever held out a
helping hand ! might have made a
man after all, he thought as he lay
tossing on his bed that night. III
mother had only lived 7
From his father he had only heard
peeyish. singing sarcssms, and the
daily command to go and learn some.
thing of cotton and dress goods.
If could be rid of these debts. |
would begin all fresh. I'd go into the
store and 10 my oest. One hundred
and fifty dollars would make free
man Of me. But / would as soon get
n million
He lay awake until near the morn.
ing, and entered the store late the
next day, his head throbbing and eyes
bleared from loss OF sleep.
Your father has sent for your un-
Gle, said Leslie, looking up from his
desk.
There was an unusual composure
on even his calm face. He spoke
slowly, as if weighing even those triv-
ial words.
You're turning into a regular ma
chine, Les : said Walter, irritably.
Iron, screws, wheels--so much noise
ground out
Crawford's cold eyes followed HIM
as he passed on, and then dropped
quietly on the long line Of figures be-
fore him. But ne made no entries.
He vas listening like a s!euth. hound
TO the smotherei sound of voices in
Mr. Ewalt's office. Beside the mer-
chant, there Was waiting for Walter
his uncle and 'all, rei-headed gen.
tleman whom he recognized as an Of
ficer of the bank. His father was
standing, zip Of paper in h. hand.
He held it out t. Walter sailing nery-
ous!y, ieverish, scared gertleness IN
his manner which startle! the boy.
All here Is my son. H viii eA-
plain it, Mr.. Luckett. This cheek,
Walter; did you ever see j, before >
Walter glanced at it.
1 don't know, sir. I 90 to cash
your checks every day. This may
have been among them can't say.
Don't You examine the checks be-
fore you present them and count the
money? inquired Mr.. Luckett.
Walter grew crimson.
Sometimes, but not always. Faith ,
er knows the checks are right, and the ,
cashier knows the money is right, so
/ don't trouble myself, of course
Hastily, It's wrong, but l have no
head for business. /
The officer smiled meaningly, but
made no answer.
You don't understand, Walter,
said his father. My name is forged
to this check. Mr.. Luckett said you
presented it day before yesterday, and
drew the money for it. Is that true?
L don't know, sir. If | did, Of
course didn't know it was forged.
took over balf dozen checks to cash.
You or Leslie gave them to me.
don't remember which. Why, sud.
denly coughing, of course it couldn't
be. You wouldn't give me forged
check on yourself, sir ?
The boy is go guileless that be does
not see that you suspect him, said Un-
Gle George, angrily turning on the Of (
ficer.
Suspect me Of forgery, father ?
No, my son, God knows | don t,
cried Mr.. Ewalt with shaking hands.
But if you could only remember
The cashier is ready to swear that
you did cash this check, said Mr..
Luckett. facing Walter with keen, in
credulous eyes.
i have had no money. Look there
said Walter, with a nervous laugh,
turning on; his empty pockets.
At this moment Leslie came noise
lessly into the Office.
Here are some receipts which Sny-
der and two other men left to be given
to you. Walter, he said, in his distinct
tone.
Receipts : stammeied Walter. i
have not paid them
These bills, with the money en-
closed, we're sent them by a messen-
ger yesterday, pursued Leslie. They
brought the receipts themselves. See
if they are right-one hundred and
thirty-nine dollars and forty cents.
There was a breathless silence. Les
lie walked back TO his desk. The
cold olammy sweat stood on Walters
face.
Speak speak Explain this, Wall
ter cried his father, shrilly. i
don't believe it. thrust you, my boy.